CSU board committee approves presidential salary freeze

LONG BEACH — A Cal State University Board of Trustees subcommittee on Tuesday unanimously approved a plan that would freeze salaries for presidents in the wake of public outrage over recent pay raises.

The decision came amid demonstrations that started outside the morning meeting and later continued until about 8 p.m. outside CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed's Belmont Heights home during a dinner party for top university officials.

The plan approved by the board's Special Committee on Presidential Selection and Compensation would freeze state-funded salaries for the 23 campus presidents for the next two years. However, private campus foundations would be permitted to raise funds to increase compensation for newly hired presidents by up to

10 percent.

The full board is expected to vote on the issue in its regular meeting Wednesday.

Trustees said the plan would freeze the level of salary funded by taxpayers while also allowing the CSU to increase compensation to attract top talent and compete in the national market.

"At a time when state funding continues to decline, it's important to remain fiscally prudent, but it's equally important to competitively compensate our new university presidents," said Lou Monville, chairman of the subcommittee.

Trustee Steven Glazer noted that donations from private foundations would be voluntary and some campus foundations could choose not to raise funds for additional compensation.

"This is a very constructive step forward," he said.

Critics have said that any additional funding, even private money, should be used to help lower tuition and boost enrollment.

Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, an ex officio CSU trustee, said the plan still allows for presidential pay raises in a time of severe budget cuts. Newsom said it sends the wrong message to the public.

"Regardless of where the money comes from, it's going to come from somebody who could otherwise invest somewhere else," he said.

The CSU faced harsh criticism last year when trustees approved a $400,000 compensation package for the newly hired president of San Diego State. In the same meeting, they also voted to raise student tuition by 12 percent.

In the wake of public pressure, the board in January approved a salary cap for newly hired university presidents at $325,000 or no more than 10 percent above what their predecessors made.

In March, trustees approved 10 percent raises for the newly appointed presidents of CSU East Bay and CSU Fullerton - a move that stirred sharp public outcry and criticism from top state officials including Gov. Jerry Brown and State Superintendent Tom Torlakson.

The trustee meeting at the Chancellor's Office in Long Beach kicked off on Tuesday and runs through Wednesday.

Outside the meeting, dozens of members of the California Faculty Association staged a demonstration with signs that read: "I don't want to strike but I will" and "Strike a deal or deal with strikes."

Last week, the union, which represents 24,000 professors, librarians and other staff, announced a plan for a two-day rolling strike this fall if contract negotiations fail.

The authorization to strike was overwhelmingly approved by 95 percent of those who participated in a two-week voting process that ended on April 27.

CFA leaders walked out of negotiations with CSU representatives Saturday after the two sides failed to reach an agreement. The next step in the bargaining process is the appointment of a neutral fact-finder who will hear arguments from both sides.

The demonstrations Tuesday continued in the evening when more than a dozen CSU students, including a handful who are on hunger strike, gathered outside of Reed's home on Granada Avenue in Belmont Heights. The chancellor was holding a dinner party for campus presidents, trustees and other guests there.

Outside on the sidewalk, the students held signs that read: "We are starving. How are you?" and "Can we come in? No no no!"

As guests began to arrive around 6:30 p.m., students chanted: "You let our money go to waste! Tell us how it tastes!"

"Enjoy the dinner!" shouted hunger striker Antoine Wilson.

At one point, Reed appeared in the front doorway as he welcomed guests but quickly shut the door when students spotted him.

"Chancellor Reed, we're hungry!" shouted one student.

The students continued to protest, one shouting through a loud horn, as Reed's guests sat down for dinner.

Donnie Bessom, a Cal State Long Beach student on hunger strike, said he has so far lost 9 pounds. Bessom said the group was there to sound their voice against administration overspending.

"We want to know how much money it cost the taxpayers to have this dinner party," he said.

Protesters also flooded the alleyway near Reed's backyard where they could hear guests talking and dining behind a brick wall.

A handful of Cal State Dominguez Hills students called out for former Cal State Dominguez Hills President Mildred Garcia, who was at the party. Garcia received a 10 percent pay raise this year when she became the new president of Cal State Fullerton. At one point, guests chanted back, "We love Millie!"

The students were later joined by several student demonstrators from UCLA, who said they were there to show solidarity. The demonstrators left peacefully at around 8 p.m. as guest were still inside. "We definitely disrupted his dinner party," said Cal State Los Angeles student Yesenia Ramires. "They knew we were out here."